Volume 48, Issue 11 by The Crow's Nest

NEWS, page 3

ARTS, page 4

ARTS, page 8

BLUE DOG ON THE BLOCK

IT’S A FUN-SIZED ZONE

REIMAGINED WITH FLOWER POWER

The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library has partnered with the Southeastern Guide Dog Association to house Duke. He’s a cute superhero sculpture — complete with glasses and blue fur.

The St. Petersburg Eco-Village hosted the Tiny Home Festival on Saturday. The event featured houses that ranged from 100 to 500 square feet. Read about the trending, quirky lifestyle.

The Museum of Fine Arts recently hosted Art in Bloom, an exhibit that showcased floral arrangements that were inspired by classical works of art.

The Crow’s Nest THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ST. PETERSBURG

Volume 48, Issue 11 - April 3, 2017 | Online at www.crowsneststpete.com

Slash & Earn: SG proposes new budget plan By Tim Fanning tfanning@mail.usf.edu

he Campus Recreation department and Office of Multicultural Affairs stand to get more money next year under a spending plan tentatively approved by Student Government leaders last week. But The Crow’s Nest and Student Government itself would see the largest budget cuts. At issue is the $3.3 million that USF St. Petersburg students are expected to pay in Activities and Service fees during the 20172018 school year. Each student pays an A&S fee of $25.63 per credit hour or $307.56 for a fulltime student in a semester of 12 credit hours. Slightly more than half of the $3.3 million goes to help fund the University Student Center, which opened in 2012. The rest is allocated by Student Government, which was scheduled to meet Monday, April 3, for a final vote. The plan will then be sent to Laraine Ruiz, the student body president. After her approval, the budget will be sent to Dwayne Isaacs, director of student life

and engagement, and then Sophia Wisniewska, regional chancellor of the university, for approval. The senate has delayed a decision which tightened the deadline for the approval process. Under the tentative spending plan, the biggest increase would be for Campus Recreation, which was allocated $575,450 in 2016-17 and stands to receive a budget of $682,082 in 2017-18. Campus Recreation runs the fitness center in the SLC, staffs and maintains the sailing center and the Coquina Club, including the pool. It also oversees the intramural sports offered on campus which includes dodge-

Let’s see if this investment really pays off next year.

ball, volleyball and kickball. Greg Haverlock, campus recreation director, declined to comment on the Student Government budget process but told The Crow’s Nest he is confident the Coquina Club, which will be renovated this summer, will receive what is necessary for its operation. He said the money will cover the operating expenses for the new facility, including staff, maintenance and security of equipment. Another winner under the proposed spending plan is the Office of Multicultural Affairs, which got $103,500 this year and stands to receive $111,806 next year. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is one of the most active organizations on campus. It hosts events and provides activities and workshops that promote diversity and inclusiveness. The organization is responsible for many campus activities including diversity week, the black history showcase and USF St. Petersburg’s participation in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. Javier Gonzalez, the coordina-

tor of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said he hopes to use the increased funding to add more diversity training for members of the organization to improve social events that it hosts for students and faculty. The office’s budget may increase the most in its operating expenses for the MLK Day celebration, which will include float rental, updated banners, beads and supplies. Gonzalez said the office also plans to offer a more fulfilling experience for the students involved and the commu-

nity that attends the celebration. A loser in the proposed spending plan is The Crow’s Nest. The campus newspaper was allocated $50,155 this year and requested $52,153 for next year. Instead, it is set to receive $42,648 — a cut of $7,507 or 15 percent. Devin Rodriguez, the paper’s editor-in-chief, said Student Government budget officials led him to believe virtually every student organization would be cut next year because of an overSee “A&S” P2

Food Recovery Club gathers leftover food, changes lives By Micheal Moore Jr. michaelmoor@mail.usf.edu

wice a week, anxious students gather on the benches outside of the USC. They head inside right before The Reef closes at 9 p.m. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss them before they disappear into the kitchen. Hats-on-head and gloves-inhand, they stand in front of giant plastic containers and coolers. An employee brings out the food. An electronic scale and large, metal spoons appear. The students are members of USF St. Petersburg’s Food Recovery Club. They package the food and donate it to the ALPHA House, a local women and children’s shelter. Claire Graham, 19, is a junior biology student with a minor in anthropology. She is also the founder and president of Food Recovery. “People can make a difference — anyone can. Everyone has something to offer and can really

THE CROW’S NEST Since 1969

make an impact on the community,” she says. The club is attempting to do just that. It meets twice a week to rescue The Reef’s leftovers. According to Graham, the members gather anywhere between 30 to 50 pounds on average. Items range from rice to chicken to green beans. On some days they might score something special, like the uneaten wraps and sandwiches from an event catered by Panera Bread. Anything that goes unserved on a Tuesday or Thursday might be fair game. In the process of feeding people, they are protecting the environment. “We’re diverting that waste from landfills, where it would degrade and release harmful gases into the environment,” she says. “Waste has a lot of unseen costs.” Graham first got the idea while at an Association for the AdSee “FRC” P5

MICHAEL MOORE JR. | THE CROW’S NEST

Reef Recovery: Members of the Food Recovery Club meet twice a week to gather excess food from The Reef and donate it to a local shelter. The organization chooses to donate to the local ALPHA House, a shelter for women and children.

THE CROW’S NEST IS THE WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ST. PETERSBURG. ALL CONTENT IN THE PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY USFSP STUDENTS. SINGLE COPIES FREE.

@CrowsNestStPete @USFCrowsNest

2 NEWS

APRIL 3, 2017

THE CROW’S NEST

A&S continued from P1 all decline in A&S fee money. In the spirit of cooperation, he said, The Crow’s Nest offered to print fewer papers each week and stop sending editors to the annual convention of the Associated Collegiate Press, which typically draws 1,700 student journalists and features workshops, critiques and prominent speakers. Rodriguez said he was dismayed to learn that most other organizations stand to receive more – not less – money under the spending plan. He asked Student Government leaders to reconsider their decision before the final vote on April 3. Albert Moreno is a student senator and the chair of the senate committee on appropriations, a group of senators who oversee the budget process. He said that many organizations lobbied for increases to their budgets. They told SG that more money would help them combat a decline in the student retention rate at USF St. Petersburg. “Organizations say that they need the money in our reserve to keep students interested in USF and to keep them on campus,” Moreno said. “Let’s see if this investment really pays off next year.” Students transferring or dropping out of USF St. Petersburg pose a significant problem for the university. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the sixyear graduation rate is just 38 percent, a little under half of USF Tampa’s. The decrease in students re-enrolling in classes and graduating, instead opting to leave the university, decreases the funds available for SG to divvy out to organizations. The reserve, Moreno explained, is money from a deficit account, or a reserve pool for A&S money that rolled over from the previous year. This conflicts with SG’s goal to cut all deficit spending by the 2020-2021 fiscal year, a goal it must meet under a constitutional amendment approved by the student body last semester.

PROPOSED ACTIVITY AND SERVICE FEE BUDGET Entity 16-17 Final 17-18 Requested 17-18 Proposed Title Allocation Allocation Allocation 1. DSLE

$154,530

$187,995

$168,332

2. HAB

$119,303

$127,570

$119,116

3. LSO

$142,275

$155,877

$145,601

4. Cash Flow

$281,885

$20,000

5. CERCC

$28,538

$30,750

6. USC

$1,669,800

7. Admin Fee

$83,656

$1,697,400 -

$1,697,400 $95,821

Budget Breakdown: 1. Department of Student Life and Engagement: Oversees and financially advises departments primarily located in the Student Life Center. Helps advise SG, The Crow’s Life, HAB and OMA. 2. Harborside Activities Board: Plans and staffs activities across campus like Homecoming, Week of Welcome and USFSP Week. 3. Leadership and Student Organizations Office: Provides leadership learning opportunities, service learnings and advises student orgs. 4. Cash Flow Reserve: An initial investment in the reserve account (also called the deficit account) that can be utilized for emergency spending. 5. Clean Energy and Resource Conservation Commission: A sustainability fund that can be used to improve structures on campus and services offered. 6. University Student Center: Money paid to the USC to help fund staff and services. The USC hosts events, contains The Reef and student housing. 7. Administration Fee (6 percent): A fee that gets paid to the overall USF system administration.

“The Crow’s Nest is the only organization that put money back into the deficit while other organizations took from the reserve account,” said Moreno. “Not everyone is ready to take a such a big pay cut.” Emilie Morris, the senate president, denied that the paper’s sometimes skeptical coverage of Student Government figured in the decision to cut its budget. She said she did not believe that any of the senators were retaliating. “We went along with what The Crow’s Nest editorial staff recommended for printing cost and the training conference,” said Morris. “In no way whatsoever was this decision because of [The Crow’s Nest’s] coverage of Student Government. We at Student Government value the honest reporting and coverage they provide for our organization.” Over the last year, Student Government has been plagued by turmoil, poor turnout in stu-

dent body elections and budget problems — all of it covered by The Crow’s Nest. When the 2016-2017 budget was approved last spring, it had a $93,511 error. That forced SG to cut the budgets of Campus Recreation and the Office of Leadership and Student Organization.

Not everyone is ready to take such a big pay cut.

Then in August, SG president Ziya Kardas and his vice president — who had been elected without opposition — took “temporary” leaves of absence

that lasted until they resigned six months later. The mysterious leaves, which were never explained, apparently followed a dispute between Kardas and vice president Gina Rotunno that involved allegations of harassment. This spring only 650 students voted in the SG elections. All 11 senate candidates were approved, but not all senate seats are filled, due in part to senators from the prior semester leaving office. Student Government is the only other organization whose budget will be cut under the spending plan — from $220,521 this year to $186,905. It’s a drop of $33,616 or about 15 percent of its total budget. SG’s budget helps run the Bulls in the Burg program, hosts events on campus and sponsors events for other organizations. In the proposed budget, SG set $45,000 aside in the student club and organi-

zation event fund, which will be spent as clubs and organizations ask for it. The amount set aside for student wages within Student Government totals $75,105. Late last week, David Thompson, the president-elect of Student Government, submitted a proposal seeking more money for Student Government in the spending plan. His proposal was scheduled for consideration on Monday. Thompson said he believes that strong student leadership will increase the number and quality of the services that USF St. Petersburg provides. He said that the hard work of SG helps encourage potential students to enroll and then remain at the university. “I am hopeful that they hear me out,” Thompson told The Crow’s Nest. “I believe [student leadership] is vital to making a successful student government.”

Crow’s Corner: How to be a conscientious customer By Lis Casanova lis@mail.usf.edu

orking in customer service is a trying task. Even though the jobs are, for the most part, simple enough, it’s the customers that make or break your day. If you’ve ever had one of these jobs, particularly in the food service industry, I commend you. You’ve probably become a more conscientious person because of it, fellow servers recognize you. If on the other hand, you’ve never had a service job, it’s important to realize that the ways in which you approach, address, and interact with your servers will have a big effect on their state of mind and your own service.

Here are some tips to make sure you’re being the best customer possible. 1. Get off your phone Being on your phone while trying to place an order is extremely frustrating to servers. Multitasking, in this case, isn’t a good idea. If you’re ordering for other people, try to get the order from them before you get to the counter. Servers need your full attention, there are always questions they need to ask or details they need to let you know. Besides, it’s the polite thing to do. 2. Read the menu There’s nothing worse than someone who’s had time to look at the menu but still arrives at the counter with no idea of what they want. Or

worse, when they order something the store doesn’t even carry. Servers need to work quickly and standing idly while you squint over the menu with a line of people waiting behind you is definitely not efficient. 3. Understand that servers are human. It sounds self-evident to state. But, servers are often disrespected or belittled after they’ve made a mistake. We understand it’s normal to be a bit annoyed when what you’ve paid for isn’t right but there is no need to project those feelings. Servers are stressed and overworked. Imagine what it’d be like to wait on a customer hand and foot. Trust me, it’s not easy. Learn how to forgive and forget.

4. Leave a tip Most workers in the food service industry, particularly servers and bartenders, make $5.08 an hour in Florida. Employers expect the remaining portion to be provided by the consumer. Though you may feel the injustice in that, if you are contributing to the use of that service then you are indebted to your server. This also applies to coffee shops, valet, salons and other places that provide a personalized service. 5. If the establishment is closed, please leave the premises. You may not want to go home yet but servers definitely do. Closing down a shop, restaurant or bar can take anywhere from one to three hours. By recognizing store closing

hours and limiting yourself to them, you show an enormous amount of courtesy to workers. It shows that you respect their well-being as much as your fun time. I’m sure we’ve all heard somebody say things along the lines of, “it’s their job” or “they get paid to do it.” This way of thinking, though true, does also rely on an abandonment of personal responsibility and social courtesy. Anyone working in the service industry knows they are expected to keep a clean store and to go out of their way to provide the customer with an easy-going, worry-free experience. But as consumers and as human beings, it’s important to be considerate.

APRIL 3, 2017| NEWS 3

THE CROW’S NEST

Meet Duke, the library’s new blue superhero

COURTESY OF SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS ASSOCIATION

Duke & Duke: The two Dukes poses next to one another as St. Petersburg’s new Superheroes on Parade event at Sundial St. Pete. Duke’s sculpture is now stationed in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

By Whitney Elfstrom welfstrom@mail.usf.edu

he newest member of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library sports four legs, blue fur and a dashing cape. His name is Duke. Duke found his way to the

jewel by the bay with the help of the Southeastern Guide Dog Association. The SGDA is based out of Palmetto, Florida and works to pair guide dogs with veterans and the visually impaired. The organization works to place

Cars, for better or worse? The millennial perspective By Marilyn Bloomberg mbloomberg@mail.usf.edu

aving a car is a rite of passage for teens and young adults in the millennial generation. We turned 16, we earned our driver’s licenses, we drove our parents’ cars — but what if we didn’t? More and more young adults are finding that they don’t want the responsibility and burden of owning a car, according to Tony Dutzik and Jeff Inglis of the Frontier Group. Some don’t want to further harm the environment. Others don’t want to pay for a vehicle and maintenance. For Kate Dalley, 26, a master’s student in the business program, the reason she doesn’t drive is simple. “Since I am so close to work, I started riding my bike to work and quickly realized it is actually faster to ride than drive and find parking,” said Dalley. Living in downtown St. Petersburg means many people don’t want or need to use cars. Luckily, there are numerous options for residents and visitors to get around. They include: the Downtown Looper trolley for local transportation, PSTA buses, rental bikes, electric taxis and more. Brandon Potoczek, 24, is a senior studying interdisciplinary studies. He said that he’s happy to limit the use of his car to benefit the environment. “I feel good cutting down on my carbon footprint,” said

Potoczek. “I have been driving automatic and 5-speeds since I was 15. Living in St. Petersburg and being able to walk everywhere has afforded me the luxury of not needing a car.” Ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Uber make commuting without a car easier. For the price of a minimum fare plus mileage, carless students can summon a driver to pick them up. According to Lyft, the company completed 163 million trips in 2016. By comparison, Uber announced last year that it completes 40 million trips a month. Using Lyft and Uber often can get costly, though, especially at night when the service is most popular. Students looking to get around for free can turn to public transport. USF St. Petersburg students may use PSTA buses and the Downtown Looper trolleys as much as they want with a valid student ID. Having options other than driving means that millennials can save money and put it towards other essentials. Past generations have relied on cars to get around, but thanks to technological advancements millennials have more options. The possibilities for transport are pretty much endless. For further information on how to use a USF student ID for free bus and trolley fare, visit http://www.usfsp.edu/ blog/2014/10/03/free-ride-usfsp-partners-with-psta/.

more than 100 guide dogs each year with no expense to those who need them. Earlier this year, Dr. Deni Elliott, department chair of the journalism program, began working with the on-campus Puppy Club and SGDA. Elliott,

who uses her own guide dog, reached out to Cathy Cardwell, the dean of the library, to inform her of the Superheroes on Parade event. The event took place at Sundial St. Pete, March 8. Over 50 life-size sculptures of real life guide dogs were created by local artists and placed around the downtown area. Dr. David and Kathy Nateman, sponsors of the real Duke, were looking for a place that would proudly display the black lab’s sculpture. Elliot knew that the library occasionally hosts therapy dog sessions and asked Cardwell if it would be willing to house Duke’s sculpture. “The tricky part is [that] I didn’t know what he would look like, but boy is he cute,” Cardwell said. Duke “the superhero” was accepted on behalf of USF St. Petersburg by Cardwell and Mayor Rick Kriseman. The real life Duke and his family attended the unveiling of his sculpted doppelganger. It’s almost impossible to not be captivated by the superhero guide dog who is currently on display in the main aisle of the library. However, the staff hopes to

move him to the front walkway of the library, which will become his permanent home. “People were so happy when [Duke] came in — all of our staff and students. He just makes people happy,” Cardwell said. Students and faculty who fall in love with Duke’s sculpture may vote for it on SGDA’s website. There are five superheroes scattered around the downtown St. Petersburg area. Each sculpture is identical, excluding the design painted by a local artist. Duke was painted by USF alumna Carrie Jadus. Votes will determine the top dogs among the superhero bunch and the winners will receive People’s Choice Awards. Each vote requires a $1 donation and the proceeds go to SGDA. Cardwell feels that Duke is a great example of how the library partners with the community to bring the space to life. She strives to make the library a welcoming and entertaining place for everyone. “We look for things that will give the library a human touch, or in this case a canine touch,” said Cardwell. To vote for Duke’s sculpture, visit https://superheroesonparade.dog

4 A&E

APRIL 3, 2017

THE CROW’S NEST

100 square feet and a dream: Tiny Home Festival By Whitney Elfstrom welfstrom@mail.usf.edu

he teardrop-shaped home supplied just enough room for two people to lounge on the cushioned floor that also acts as a bed. Two doors were carved into the blue abode and kept open to enforce the intense need for connection with nature. Books about spirituality, photos of loved ones, and a small vase filled with flowers lined the walls of the tiny house. Despite the distinct lack of room, the little home managed to give off a welcoming aura that stayed with those who entered. People from all different backgrounds attended the first annual St. Pete Eco-Village Tiny Home Festival on Saturday, April 1. What exactly is a tiny home, you might ask? A tiny home typically ranges from 100 to 500 square feet. Owners of tiny homes are motivated by all sorts of reasons, but many mention their efforts to live a more environmentally and financially sustainable life. People slipped into the tiny state of mind while munching on gourmet Pop Craft popsicles and standing in line to check out the tiny homes. Guests were also fond of basking in the sun and wandering through Eco-Village’s community garden. The 10 homes on display ranged from 40 to 234 square feet. The quarters may have been small, but the owners were mighty. Each home was accompanied with its own stylistic spin. One house touted an early 1800s feel, complete with a piano that folded out into a bed. While another was a vibrantly painted school bus decorated with a cow skull on the front grill. The sold-out event was packed

WHITNEY ELFSTROM | THE CROW’S NEST

Small Livin’: The St. Pete Eco-Village hosted the first Tiny Home Festival on April 1. Crowds flocked to see small-scale living on display.

full of visitors as soon as the doors opened at 10 a.m. Among the sea of people were Angie and Todd, who neglected to give their last names. The couple traveled to the festival from Sarasota to see what the tiny house madness was all about. Although the couple doesn’t currently own a tiny house, Angie said she could see one becoming a part of their life later. Todd, a contractor, believes he would be able to easily master the feat of building a tiny home. Angie’s ideal location for a tiny home is out west. She says that she’d love to live in the mountains to get away from Florida’s warm weather. “I would love to live in the snow rather than the heat,” she said.

In addition to the tiny house models, Eco-Village offered workshops during the event for participants, like Angie and Todd, who dream of one day achieving tiny home nirvana. Each workshop was taught by the tiny home owners and targeted different elements of building a tiny home from scratch. When the owners weren’t teaching their workshops, many were lounging about in their houses. They were all happy to welcome their new visitors and explain their unconventional living quarters. Tiny house renter James Granger, 26, found his way to the minimalist movement when he realized he no longer enjoyed driving his car. “Driving a car everywhere isn’t good for your mental health,”

Granger said while strumming his guitar. “In a city where you can bike everywhere, I don’t see why anyone would drive.” Scattered around Granger’s home was a keyboard, an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar. As a local musician, Granger felt it was important for his tiny home to be a welcoming, creative space that allows him to work on his music. Granger discovered his tiny home at an intentional living community, a planned residential community designed with social cohesion in mind, and with the help of a few friends he was able to transform the once-gray home into a sea of color. The smallest home belonged to Liza Bailstein, 28, and her husband Hal, 56. They met at

The Blueberry Patch in Gulfport. It was there that they fell in love with the idea of living a minimalist lifestyle. Originally living in Hal’s Volkswagen van on a plot of land with a few friends, the Bailsteins decided that a tiny home would be the right move. Hal designed and built their tiny oasis in 2 and half months, just in time for the couple to take off for the first eco-village on their tour. The Illumi-Nation Project, the name of their tiny home, has traveled everywhere from the depths of deserts to the tops of mountains and back to downtown St. Petersburg, the city they hope to call home, for good. “We know that [minimalism] is the way we love to live,” Liza said with a smile. “It just makes sense.”

“That was something I never got from my regular family M.D.,” said Crosby. This shed some light onto the concept of natural healing. Crosby sought out more information on herbalism. “I took some programs online, which were great and really informative, but you don’t physically have the connection to the plants,” said Crosby. Crosby found an herbalism program at The Natural Health Hut where she studied for a year under Florida herbalist Rose Kalajian. “I love that she loves Florida and she respects it and appreciates it and knows a lot about the plants,” said Crosby. Crosby spent years manifesting the concept for her shop, Roots of the Sun, along with her co-owner Jake Galles. The two settled on the area because of its large herbalist community. The new herbal apothecary is off of Central Avenue and 21st Street N., the first of its kind in St. Petersburg.

“It turned out to be exactly what we wanted. It felt very serendipitous to have such a beautiful, whimsical space,” said Crosby. The location has an apartment upstairs where Crosby and Galles have planted their residential roots as well. The foundation of the shop is to educate, support and promote health in the community. Roots of the Sun offers hand-blended teas based on each customer’s needs, the essentials needed to prepare your herbs properly and liquid herb blends, also known as tinctures. The duo has hopes of landing their tea blends in local coffee shops and restaurants, as well as introducing college kits. The kits would have different themes such as a “Hangover Remedy” said Crosby, but essentially would be a way to help students find health. Seeking to involve the community more, Crosby and Galles will introduce a line of chakra teas and host monthly workshops to teach what chakras are.

They are also hosting a guided meditation among other free

events to incorporate wellness and educate the community.

Local business plants herbal roots in St. Petersburg By Corey Mapp cmapp@mail.usf.edu

rom a sickly childhood to attending a college that didn’t advocate natural health, local business owner Destini Crosby now shares her knowledge of holistic health with downtown St. Petersburg. “I was sick all the time. I always got colds, strep throat and different viruses. So when I actively took a role in my health, I started to see huge changes,” said Crosby. “I didn’t have any guidance on how to transition into a healthier lifestyle,” said Crosby as she recounted the beginning of her college career. “All I knew was: I’m in college, I’m going to get fast food, that’s what you do.” Her feelings are all too relatable for college students, but at 18, Crosby was inspired to meet with a Chinese medicine doctor. “They really just took a lot of time with me and talked about all my health issues.

COREY MAPP | THE CROW’S NEST

Roots of the Sun: Destini Crosby (left) and Jake Galles pose in front of one of the shelves in their herbal apothecary, Roots of the Sun.

APRIL 3, 2017| A&E 5

THE CROW’S NEST

Review: Drake’s “More Life” deserves a poor life

By Jonah Hinebaugh jonahh@mail.usf.edu

rake’s worthiness as the top artist in the world has all but disappeared after dropping his 22-song playlist, “More Life.” The playlist follows a mediocre “Views” album, released last April, and demonstrates Drizzy’s ability to find trends in order to remain relevant in a world that should’ve left him behind, especially after his weak collaboration album with Future. It’s a daunting 81 minutes. Drake intended to, according to an interview with Complex

magazine, “[create] a playlist to give you a collection of songs that become the soundtrack to your life.” Unfortunately, the Toronto rapper created a boring album that only stays afloat thanks in part to its production and mixing value by people like Kanye West, Boi-1da, Noel “Gadget” Campbell and PartyNextDoor. Opening with a beautiful sample from “Building a Ladder” by Hiatus Kaiyote, Drake segues into a soundbite from his speech at the American Music Awards where he won “Best Rap/Hip-Hop artist.” He’s heard speaking in an odd Jamaican accent saying, “And more chune for your headtop, so watch how you speak on my name, you know?” which became the slogan for “More Life.” The term “chune” is the Jamaican patois pronunciation for “tune” and “head top” means “crown of the head.” Basically, the Canadian rapper is telling everyone to watch out — spooky.

Further into “Free Smoke” Drake tackles some hard-hitting issues like how he came from nothing and is now something. It’s not that the bars are necessarily bad, it’s just that at this point in his career, no one really cares that he went from eating Kraft macaroni and cheese to shooting three’s with KD. Following that we get a taste of UK Drake on the track “No Long Talk” featuring English rapper Giggs. The song is lined to the teeth with British street culture and slang that doesn’t belong anywhere near Drake’s mouth. The song also features more patois and keeps the listener wondering what Drake is aiming for. Sometimes it seems even Drake can’t make up his mind. Fast forward a little further in and we get the track, “Portland,” with big name American artists Travis Scott and Quavo. The song features an addictive flute melody that makes the song unique and absurdly

catchy. Drake hits up more lyrics about how he’s got all these girls now, which is cool I guess, but nothing groundbreaking. He goes on to take shots at someone, most likely Meek Mill who has had problems with Drake in the past. Drake says, “Bitin’ everybody, which is ironic ‘cause your next album probably won’t ever see the light of day. Have fans, but you let them down…” This further perpetuates Drake’s pettiness when it comes to other artists dissing him. This beef has been forgotten about in the eyes of most listeners, so how long are you going to continue to beat this dead horse? One of the best songs on the playlist is “Sacrifices,” because it’s where Drake thrives. Opening with a soft piano, his flow settles into something reminiscent of his older work. Halfway through the album, this was a relief. Of course, his lyrics still focus on women and having nice

things, but the beat and production give it more traction. It features great verses from 2 Chainz and Young Thug. The piano and pulsating beat blend nicely to give the track — more life. Without samples, the work shines and shows what Drake can do when he isn’t just copying trends. Drizzy gave us an hour and 20 minutes of music, but to be honest less than half of it is worth listening to, just like his previous album. While his creative talent can be seen through some of the works, it’s saturated with too much of the same thing we always see, him calling people out and then talking about how he’s made it. There’s obvious Jamaican and English vibes throughout the playlist that I think he could do without. Let’s stay away from appropriating culture for the sake of music. Unless you have the time, don’t force yourself to sit through this album because it isn’t worth it. Read a book or something.

College of Business Student Passes Away By Devin Rodriguez drodriguez7@mail.usf.edu

axim Malygin, a senior studying finance in the Kate Tiedemann College of Business, passed away Feb. 6. Sophia Wisniewska, USF St. Petersburg’s regional chancellor, announced Maxim’s death in an email to employees Feb. 28. Polina Pridanova, a close

friend, told The Crow’s Nest, that Malygin was passionate about travel and meeting new people. She and her husband met him while they were attending college in Russia. “He loved to experience new things. He even went skydiving,” Pridanova said. Malygin died unexpectedly, and the cause has not been determined according to his friend. Malygin, 37, was originally

born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. He moved to St. Petersburg around 2000, at the age of 20 to pursue college. He worked as an IT programmer. Pridanova said that Malygin was passionate about travel and meeting new people. He had said he wanted to travel South America by bicycle. “He will be dearly missed by his friends here and his family in Russia,” Pridanova said.

COURTESY OF DMITRIY PRIDANOV

Fondly Remembered: Maxim Malygin, 37, was a senior in the College of Business. He passed away Feb. 6, but is remembered by friends and family.

FRC continued from P1 vancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference. That’s where she discovered the Food Recovery Network, the parent organization that the club is a chapter of. Initially, it was going to be a project under Student Government’s department of sustainable initiatives. It became apparent early on, however, that Food Recovery was much more than that. Brian Pullen, the sustainability coordinator for the college, became the club advisor. Louis Duran, the general manager of Sodexo, wasn’t an easy person to get in contact with. But once they spoke, he was quick to get on board with the idea of donating excess food. But for Graham, making sure that food isn’t wasted is only part of the solution. “My passion is not only in environmental issues but on social issues as well. And they really go hand in hand. Sustainability solutions are, a lot of times, really good community solutions,” Graham said. It is with this in mind that the food is brought to ALPHA

House. The organization’s mission is to “provide housing and supportive services to homeless pregnant women and teens, new mothers with infants, and families experiencing crisis pregnancies.” According to Graham, the shelter houses up to 16 women and their children at any given time. Tiffany Scott has worked there for 11 years. She cooks during the day and assists them in whatever way she can in the evening. She says she is thankful for donations by generous organizations such as Food Recovery. “I see them every week and we’re happy to have them. I don’t know how to put it in words,” Scott said. According to Feeding America, a United States-based nonprofit focused on feeding the hungry, approximately 70 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year. While Graham’s club might not be able to put a dent in that overnight, it does its part and has repurposed over 600 pounds worth of food since starting in January.

Prospective volunteers contact Graham and sign up using Google Sheets. They are told to wear closed-toed shoes and hats if they have them. According to Graham, they are the driving force behind the movement. First-time volunteer Paulina Montoya, a junior who is also studying biology, found out about the group on the KnowIt-All’s-Guide. “I thought it was awesome. It’s not very time consuming and it’s for a good cause. The best part is, it’s not even crappy food, it’s actually good food that is being donated,” Montoya said. Keairra Trimble is Graham’s roommate. She is a sophomore biology student and is the vice president of Food Recovery. She likes to go camping, garden or have any excuse to be outdoors. She also loves helping people. “When we delivered the food to ALPHA House and they told me they were so full and stuffed, that was great,” Trimble said. “We really want to help the community and not

just those on campus.” Byron Baugh, along with Graham and Trimble, is one of the original members of Food Recovery. He is a senior environmental science student and is the secretary of the club. He likes playing games. When he isn’t playing “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” or “Magic: The Gathering” he is pretty content with his Tuesday and Thursday nights. “Every single time it always leaves you with that feeling that it’s the best thing you’ve done all week,” he said. For Baugh, this is something he’s been looking to get back into for quite some time. “I’ve had a pretty long history of doing stuff like this with Christian youth groups,” Baugh said. “I’ve always been looking for a way to do this type of work that falls in line with my more secular beliefs now.” On Wednesday, March 29, the club had its first official meeting outside of the twice-weekly recoveries. They met in the Butterfly Garden, where it was decided that Mon-

day would be added as a new recovery day. Graham says that the ultimate goal is for no food on campus to be wasted. With more volunteers and more time, she thinks that they can achieve this. But for now, she’s simply grateful for all the people who show up and help make a difference. “It’s such a testament to the fact that people care. In today’s political climate, people are so hopeless sometimes. But people do care,” Graham said. As part of Earth Day celebrations during the week of April 17, Food Recovery will host “Bulls Bucks Drive” and will be stationed outside of The Reef on select days. The club is hoping that residential students who find themselves with a surplus of funds left on their meal plans at the end of the year will consider donating to their cause. For more information about how to get involved, contact Food Recovery at cgraham6@ mail.usf.edu

6 OPINION

APRIL 3, 2017

THE CROW’S NEST

Society’s dress codes are just plain wrong

The Crow ’s Nest The Crow’s Nest is committed to providing its readers with news relevant to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and its surrounding community. The Crow’s Nest abides by the highest ethical standards and focuses on stories that help readers make informed decisions on current issues. We take seriously the public’s trust in our news reporting and strive to uphold the highest standards of reporting as defined by the Society of Professional Journalists. Opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty or student body.

Reach Us USFSP Student Life Center Office 2400 140 Seventh Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL, 33701 (727) 873-4113 Devin Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Ryan Callihan Managing Editor Evy Guerra A&E Editor Michael Moore Jr. News Editor Ben Schlesinger Contributing Editor Luke Cross Staff Reporter Tim Fanning Staff Reporter

By Nicole Carroll Sophomore Criminology major

ncarroll1@mail.usf.edu

nited Airlines is sexist! It specifically targets women and even policies what children wear. According to the company, females wearing leggings are inappropriate but men wearing shorts are not. Or at least that’s what the internet wants you to think. Twitter users have run with this conclusion since Shannon Watts tweeted about an incident where a ten-year-old girl was made to put on a dress and two other teenage girls were barred from flying because they were wearing opaque leggings. Watts criticized United for this action especially since their father was wearing shorts that were two to three inches above his knee but was allowed to board the plane. Another Twitter user, Patricia Arquette, further critiqued United by saying “leggings are business attire for 10-year-olds. Their business is being children.” It was later revealed that the

Design Savannah Gibbs Creative Director

Operations Lis Casanova Online Manager Alyssa Coburn Business Manager Ronald Brent Griffin Distribution Manager Rob Hooker Adviser

Letters to The Editor The Crow’s Nest accepts letters to the editor. All submissions should be no more than 500 words. Writers must include their full name. In addition, USF faculty should include their title, department and extension. All letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Letters can be sent to drodriguez7@mail.usf.edu with subject title “letter to the editor.” Because of high production costs, members of the USFSP are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased for 10 cents each by contacting the newspaper’s editor-in-chief or managing editor. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or university discipline.

ing.” Delta Airlines chimed in on the United scandal as well. The company tweeted that “Delta means comfort” and notes that its passengers may wear leggings, but still prohibits sleepwear. As for policing what children wear, let’s remember that our school systems do this every day. Countless cases are brought up about female students being told that their clothing is inappropriate. Most girls can’t even wear a tank top without being told that their appearance is unacceptable. Even the Pinellas County School Board mandates that all tops must cover the shoulders and clothing like spandex is not allowed “unless proper outer garments cover it.” I believe that this is an issue greater than any airline. This is an issue about society. Society needs to redefine what’s appro-

priate for females to wear. Especially since leggings are now seen as normal, casual wear. Our society also has a tendency to sexualize women and youth, especially in the media. TV shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras,” and commercials like the Three-Way burger from Carl’s Jr. help to perpetuate the sexualization of young girls and women. To stop future incidents like this from happening, our culture needs to be reevaluated. We need to stop sexualizing youth and promoting that sexualization through advertisements and social media. We also need to stop with sexualizing female’s clothing. Women of any age should not be told that opaque leggings are inappropriate. So, can we really blame United for perpetuating part of the general American culture?

COURTESY OF OLIVER HOLZBAUER

No Yoga Pants?: Most of the internet cried out against United’s barring of three girls wearing yoga pants, but it’s a bigger problem than that.

Don’t eat like a caveman, just eat real food

Whitney Elfstrom Staff Reporter

Jonah Hinebaugh Photography Editor

individuals were using buddy passes, which are passes guests of airline employees get access to. The lack of this crucial piece of information led to people speaking out against United. Well-known news outlets like The Washington Post crafted headlines such as “Two girls barred from United flight for wearing leggings,” further igniting public outrage. Most people tend to base their opinions solely on headlines and don’t bother reading further into articles. Once it was revealed that the family was taking advantage of the buddy pass program, people failed to take that into consideration. Having a buddy pass means that the family either bought their tickets at a greatly reduced price or they flew for free. On any airline, these passengers are held to a different standard than regular paying customers because they are deemed representatives of the company. These types of passengers are made aware that they have to adhere to stricter dress codes and guidelines in a contract. United Airlines specifically states that spandex clothing is inappropriate and shorts are appropriate as long as the shorts are no more than three inches above the knee. People can attack United for this policy all they want, but other airlines have similar policies. Alaska Airlines prohibits exercise clothing, American Airlines bans sleepwear and clothing that is “overly reveal-

By Corey Mapp Senior English major with concentration in Writing Studies

cmapp@mail.usf.edu

lant-based diets are all the rave lately. Vegan-friendly restaurants are popping up all over the place, but there are more options for the health-minded masses. The paleo diet is more plantbased than many others, while still supporting the intake of limited amounts of animal protein. The guidelines of paleo are to remove processed sugar, soy, wheat, grain, dairy, legumes, alcohol and processed foods from your diet. It’s pretty simple. Eat real food. A common argument against paleo is that factory farm animals are fed too much grain, pumped full of hormones and not humanely cared for. What’s often overlooked is the fact that a large portion of paleo enthusiasts pursue the

opposite of all these things. As a practitioner of the paleo diet for nearly two years, I can tell you that I am healthier now than I’ve ever been. I purchase only grass-fed red meats, hormone and antibiotic free poultry and organic, nonGMO, seasonal produce. In addition, I support companies that provide humane living conditions for animals. Those items are the foundation of my diet, but the largest impact of my commitment has been the removal of nearly all processed food items from my daily life. I don’t regularly consume the copious amounts of chemicals, hormones or genetically modified ingredients found in processed foods. Another argument against

the paleo diet is that we should not consume as much meat as the paleo lifestyle promotes. I eat vegetables with every meal and sometimes those meals don’t include meat at all. The majority of my meals are more plant-based than many of the self-proclaimed plant-based and vegan recipes found online. The base of nearly all plantbased and vegan meals include processed grain, legumes or pasta. Generally speaking, pastas and grains have minimal nutritional value and are accompanied by a large caloric value. It’s a myth that paleo diets are too high in calories. If you substitute the caloric value of a moderate amount of animal protein with the caloric value of a cup of pasta, they are pret-

COURTESY OF MALI MAEDER

Real Food: Don’t let Paleo enthusiasts fool you. This diet isn’t just about “eating like a caveman.” It’s about cutting processed foods from your diet.

ty similar. Plus, the nutrients and vitamins obtained from meat are much greater than that of processed wheat, the most common ingredient in pasta. Prior to switching to paleo, I was constantly battling hormonal imbalances, always tired and my menstrual cycle was irregular. I also had irritable bowel syndrome. Losing 50 pounds was a nice bonus, but overcoming the other factors was much more valuable to me. It took two years to get to this point and included a combination of regular exercise — mostly yoga. I still drink alcohol once a week, sometimes more if there’s a special occasion. Every now and then I eat pizza and I feel good about it when I do. While I can’t say that any one diet is better for everyone, I can say that a paleo lifestyle is what makes the most sense to me. My version of the paleo diet is to just eat real food. Food that doesn’t require a large amount of processing to consume, and making sure the majority of my intake is coming from plants. You don’t have to “eat like a caveman” to achieve optimum health. Who’s to say optimum health is a universal factor? Eat to nourish your body, improve your physical health and enhance your mental well-being.

THE CROW’S NEST

PLEASE RECYCLE

APRIL 3, 2017 MISC. 7

We’d Love to Hear from You

The Crow’s Nest accepts letters to the editor. All submissions should be no more than 250 words. Writers must include their full name. In addition, USF faculty should include their title, department and extension. All letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Letters can be sent to drodriguez7@mail.usf. edu with subject title “letter to the editor.” Corrections: The interim District Director’s name is Steven Cary.

8 A&E

APRIL 3, 2017

THE CROW’S NEST

EMILY BOWERS | THE CROW’S NEST

New Perspective: Taking inspirations from James Week’s “Untitled” work, Terry Carter designed his arrangement to look as if it would have been in the painting, had the canvas been a bit bigger.

MFA welcomes spring with floral arrangements By Devin Rodriguez drodriguez7@mail.usf.edu

legant blossoms and bouquets breathed new life into the collection of artwork at the Museum of Fine Arts. The event celebrated the unique perspective flowers provide to artistic classics. The museum hosted its 20th annual Art in Bloom event over the weekend, inviting artists to reimagine 40 works from its collection. Professional florists, hobbyists and members of the Margaret Acheson Stuart Society, a membership organization that supports the museum, submitted creative floral arrangements. In a welcoming homage to spring, the floral arrangements made for a refreshing take for visitors to tour the standard collection. Barbara Kirkconnell, an auditor for an art history class at USF St. Petersburg, crafted an arrangement inspired by Guillaume Voiriot’s “Portrait of Monsieur Gilbert Desvoisins, Councillor of State in Ordinary.” She was given around 20 works to choose from and chose Voiriot’s classic portrait as her

No. 1 choice. Kirkconnell, 70, said she had six weeks to create. She said she started with lace. “I chose this piece because there is a wide variety of items to interpret,” Kirkconnell said. “You need to look for things that inspire you and that people will recognize.” Kirkconnell said that if the viewer squints their eyes, they could see the lace in the painting first. She incorporated a similar color in the arrangement. She has created arrangements for the annual event for the past 10 years, as part of the Garden Club of St. Petersburg. Kirkconnell said that the arrangements bring a new perspective to viewers in the museum. “These expressions take a painting and turn it into something new,” Kirkconnell said. “Maybe it can help someone understand the work more.” One artwork proved difficult to convey through the medium of floral arrangements. Claude Monet’s “Houses of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London” is a cascade of blue fog distorting a profile of towers in the distance. Patricia Carey, an alumna of USF’s Tampa campus, approached her floral arrange-

EMILY BOWERS | THE CROW’S NEST

Blossoming Beauties: Beginning March 31 and ending April 3, the Museum of Fine Arts hosted its annual Art in Bloom exhibit, matching floral arrangements inspired by 40 classical art works.

ment in a Japanese style called Ikebana. Its art form prioritizes spacing to illicit a feeling of a closeness to nature. Carey said that she had been asked by visitors how she interpreted such an impressionistic painting.

DEVIN RODRIGUEZ | THE CROW’S NEST

Ikebana & Monet: Patricia Carey poses with her arrangement, which is designed in a Japanese art form called Ikebana. Carey took inspiration from the painting “Houses of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London”

“I love impressionism, nature and soft muted colors,” Carey said. “Blue is my favorite color.” Beginning there, she took a spathe from a coconut palm and contrasted it with dark blue magnolias. The magnolias stand vertically at varying lengths to signify the towers behind. “I wanted to give the viewer my interpretation, and wanted them to see how I expressed myself through the work,” Carey said. This year, Carey said she saw a lot of literal interpretations of the artwork. She graduated USF with a master’s degree in arts. Now, she is an at-home social worker with BayCare Homecare. Carey works with Ikebana International and attends its meetings at Chapel on the Hill in Pinellas. She took lessons in the Ichiyo style but said that there are a lot of different schools in Ikebana. On Sunday, April 2, the floral arrangement artists stood by their creations, greeted visitors

and discussed their work. Terry Carter, from Carter’s Florist, has designed floral arrangements 35 years but has only worked for Carter’s for six months. In fact, Carter said that the owner of Carter’s name is also Terry Carter. Carter’s floral arrangement took inspiration from James Week’s “Untitled” work. He replicated the colors and aesthetic of the work heavily. “I shot for something that the artist would have included if he had a bigger canvas,” Carter said. The heavy pinks, white and blues stood tall and beautiful next to the painting of the bikini-clad woman and two dogs. The floral arrangements only survive for a few days, adding to the transience and beauty of the work. For that reason, the exhibit only ran from April 1 to April 3. The annual event has been celebrated for 20 years and consistently draws crowds of spectators excited to discuss the transition of artistic mediums.